Felon remanded into custody prior to trial

Samuel D. Burros violated conditions of his release

A convicted felon previously released to a third-party custodian was remanded into state custody Monday morning in Juneau Superior Court, moments before his trial was scheduled to begin.

Samuel D. Burrous was scheduled to begin a two-day trial for possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony. Burrous was convicted of coercion in 1999, a class ‘C’ felony. He had been released to the custody of his mother and lived at her residence while his trial was pending.

However, Burrous’ sister, Amanda Wade, tipped off Juneau Police Department Officer Jacob Abbott about Burrous violating the conditions of his release, said Assistant District Attorney Amy Williams Monday in court.

Abbott executed a search warrant of the residence around 1:30 a.m. Sunday and discovered Burrous gone and amounts of drugs and drug paraphernalia in his room, including heroin, prescription drugs crushed and ready for injection and hypodermic needles, Williams said.

Defense attorney Kevin Higgins questioned the allegations, and another case aspect concerning a witness who was issued a subpoena Dec. 18, but could not be located until recently. Higgins said the accounts were a “one-sided, second-hand offer of what happened.”

Burrous’ mother attended the hearing. In an interview with the Empire, she stated her son had never violated third-party custodianship, and when he was not with her he was with another custodial party whom he worked for.

Judge Patricia Collins granted a request from the state to have Burrous transferred to Lemon Creek Correctional Center. She issued new conditions of release for Burrous that include a new third-party custodian, a $5,000 cash-only bail and no contact with his sister.

Burrous’ trial is scheduled for Jan. 27-28. A pre-trial hearing is set for 1:45 p.m. Jan. 19.

Burrous’ firearm possession charges stem from the discovery by the Juneau Police Department of a 9 mm Ruger pistol in Burrous’ hotel room Oct. 6, 2010. JPD obtained a warrant to search the room after Abbott interviewed a witness. Abbott, along with JPD officers Brent Bartlett and Jim Esbenshade searched the room and found a small green money bag which held a magazine loaded with ammunition for a 9 mm Ruger. The officers found the pistol underneath a dresser stand.